HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pearsall, D. J Articles by Hedden, D. M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pearsall, D. J Articles by Hedden, D. M Related Collections Injuries and Conditions: Spine Tests and Measurements Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Comparison of Three Noninvasive Methods for Measuring Scoliosis

DJ Pearsall is a doctoral candidate, Department of Anatomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
JG Reid, PhD, is Professor, Department of Anatomy, and Director, School of Physical and Health Education, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
DM Hedden, MD, is Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Medicine, Queen's University.

The premise behind most noninvasive techniques for the measurement of scoliotic conditions of the spine is that the lateral distortion of the spine relates directly to transverse rib cage deformity within the transverse plane. The focus of this study was to examine this assumption by comparing different noninvasive methods for the assessment of scoliotic curves. The three techniques examined were (1) use of the Scoliometer® (SCOL), (2) use of the back-contour device (BCD), and (3) use of moiré topographic imaging (MTI). Fourteen subjects (10 female, 4 male) with idiopathic adolescent scoliosis were measured. Posterior-anterior radiographs were obtained for the clinical assessment of all subjects and were subsequently used to determine Cobb angles. Significant correlations between axial trunk rotation and Cobb-angle measurements were observed in the thoracic region (MTI, r=.80, df=10, P<.005; BCD, r=.70, df=10, P<.025; SCOL, r=.59, df=10, P<.025) but were not found within the lumbar region (MTI, r=.42; BCD, r=.17; SCOL, r=.20). Factors other than trunk deformity, such as the posture assumed by the subject during measurement, may have influenced axial trunk rotation. Hence, the techniques appear to provide valid estimations of lateral curvature of the spine in the thoracic region of the trunk but not the lumbar region. The results suggest that the measurement techniques cannot be used interchangeably in clinical recording

Key Words: Back measurement • Moiré • Scoliosis • Spinal curvature

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?